BOXER Warren Stowe, who ran a gauntlet of gunfire during the biggest fight of his career, was offered a rematch just hours after he dodged the bullets.

The Burnley Bulldog could have taken part in a fresh money-spinning bout with South African Simon Maseko in Cape Town this Saturday.

But the shaken fighter today said: "I just want to get home and out of this place."

Warren, 30, dived under the canvas after shooting broke out and a security man was killed during his middleweight bout with Maseko in the black township of Gugulethu.

Today Warren spoke about his nightmare ordeal in Cape Town, which started when he set foot off the plane.

Speaking from his hotel, he said today: "Cape Town is a beautiful city with so much to see, but unfortunately I have not seen anything of it.

"I arrived a week before the fight and did nothing but train. "Cape Town is a place dominated by black people. I am not racist, but this place has opened my eyes. Unless you are black you are wasting your time."

Warren and his Halifax-based manager Jimmy Moore are desperate to get back to England. They are due back on Thursday, although they could have paid more than £700 for a flight a day earlier.

Warren added: "There were three white people in the arena, including myself and Jimmy, and it was extremely intimidating.

"There were no changing rooms. There was no welcome and I felt isolated from the first day I arrived.

"I got a phone call soon after the fight asking me to stay on and have a rematch this Saturday.

"There was no way unless they were offering absolutely silly money. I am not comfortable staying here and I would have gone home ages ago given half the chance."

Warren did not rule out a possible rematch with Maseko in the UK next year. But he added: "The only two things going through my mind when I was in that ring were my girlfriend and my little girl.

"Something like this really brings home how much your loved ones really mean to you."

Toni Whitehead, Warren's partner for 11 years, said: "I just can't wait until he gets back. I am really looking forward to getting him home safe and sound.''

The couple live in the Shawclough area of Rossendale.

Toni, a cashier at Smith and Nephew, Brierfield, said: "Warren rang me at about five o'clock on Sunday.

"Not surprisingly he sounded somewhat excited. He told me what had happened but told me not to worry and that he was all right.''

By that time Warren was safely back in his hotel in Cape Town and told Toni he wanted everyone back home to know he was OK.

Unless he can find an earlier flight, Warren is expected back in Lancashire on Thursday, flying to Heathrow and then driving home.

Toni said: "It must have been really frightening. I haven't seen the television coverage although I have set the video to watch the news bulletins later.

Toni's first call after hearing the news was to Warren's mum, Kathleen, in Burnley. Kathleen said: "I last spoke to Warren on Thursday. He just rang to say he was all right and that he was staying in a nice hotel. He said he loved me and I told him I loved him too. He is a right softy really.

"That is about all we said because it is so expensive.''

Mrs Stowe said Toni telephoned her to tell her that Warren was all right and safely back in his hotel.

Strangely, Mrs Stowe had a premonition that something unusual had happened. She said: "All day on Sunday I could sense that something was not right. I didn't know what was wrong but I had a strange feeling all day about Warren.

"Now I am just so pleased that he is OK but I feel so sorry that someone was killed and for all those people who got hurt."

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